Plasterer&#39;s tool



Sept. 29, 1959 J. BUCKLEY PLASTERERS TOOL Filed Nov. 9, 1953 PLASTERERS TOOL James Buckley, Washington, D.C.

Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,802

8 Claims. (Cl. 72136) This invention relates to plasterers tools and more particularly to a device to be used to smooth plaster in the restricted area between wall openings, such as doors and windows, and the corner formed by a partition or wall thereto.

In the plastering art hereto-fore, it has been both difficult and "1111116 consuming, even by the most skilled artisan, to achieve a level surface aligned with the rest of the wall and at a proper depth from the surface of door trims, window trims, etc., where such trimmed openings occur contiguous to corners in the room. In such places, where the area is so restricted, either the plasterer cannot insert his trowel or, the area is so narrow that a surface which is level to the rest of the Wall and at the same depth from the trim can be attained, if at all, only with scrupulous effort and expenditure of valuable time. Consequently, the practical effect has been, in many instances, to finish these restricted areas in a haphazard manner often detracting considerably from an otherwise proficient job.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an inexpensive, easily constructed device which will eliminate the above difiiculty and produce a perfectly level finished surface of proper depth and in line with the rest of the wall, quickly and in a manner so facile that even an apprentice with little or no experience may eas ily finish these difficult areas. The device of my invention, which accomplishes the foregoing, comprises a leveling bar which spans the opening of the previously adjusted frame trim members and carries a gauge which neatly cuts the excess plastic material at a proper depth from the wall.

The arrangement of my invention is adaptable to door, window, etc., openings, and wall recesses of various Widths and is provided with a plurality of smoothing gauges varying in width, to suit the different restricted breadths and depths which may be encountered between the trim of openings and contiguous corners.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a plasterers tool for plastering the restricted areas of walls adjacent to wall openings contiguous to corners. More specifica1ly,-my invention provides a tool having a bar, adjustable in length, which spans door, window, or other openings of various widths and finishes the difficult wall areas between the trim of such openings and contiguous corners, at the proper depth from the trim surface.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, fonning a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout,

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the preferred embodiment of my invention spanning the door opening and applied to the restricted area between the door trim and corner of the room.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the invention as seen along Patented Sept. 29, 1959 plane 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the trim and wall in cross-section in a slightly larger scale.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the preferred embodiment of my invention showing a small smoothing gauge in position on the lower leveling' member.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as seen along plane 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as seen along plane 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view as seen along plane 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary working edge view of my invent-ion showing a metallic runner on the bearing surface.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention showing the leveling member constructed in a single piece.

Figs. 9, l0, and 11 show smoothing gauges having plaster engaging edges of various widths adapted to be used in accordance with my invention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 12 in Fig. 1 designates my invention in position spanning a door opening 14 and riding on the leveled trim members 16 fixed in position, and shown as being used to finish the narrow wall area 18.

The device as illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 comprises leveling members 20 and 22 held in slidably extensible relationship by retaining bands 24, 26 and 28. At the end of member 22 is a suitable fastening means such as slots 30 through which are inserted bolts 32 and wing nuts 34 for securing smoothing gauges 36 and 38 having plaster engaging edges of various widths depending on the width of the space to be finished. The tool of this invention is provided with a set of smoothing gauges, three of which are shown in Figs. 9, l0, and 11. The set of gauges having plaster engaging edges of various widths preferably ranging in size from one-half inch to eight inches at intervals of one-half inch and are provided with cut out portions as at 40 to secure the gauges to the leveling member. The gauge is fastened at the slots at one or more points, depending on the width of the gauge, to maintain the gauge at suflicient rigidity. The elongated cut out portions in the gauge permit adjustment of the gauges to the proper depth, ranging generally from one-eighth inch to one inch from the surface of the trim. Retaining bands 24 and 26, spaced at a suitable distance, are preferably secured on member 22 as shown at 42 in Fig. 4, While the band '28 remains unattached in order to permit band 23 to be positioned at the most advantageous point to maintain members 26 and 22 at maximum rigidity. In order to inhibit wear of the tool at the point where the leveling members bear on the trim, runners 44 preferably of metal are secured by suitable means such as wood screws 46. These runners also serve as cleaning means for encrusted plaster or other foreign matter which may have accumulated on the window or door trim.

It'will be understood that the tool of my invention may be provided with a plurality of leveling members (such as shown at 20) of various lengths adapting the tool for use in spanning extremely Wide openings as well as standard sizes.

The tool of my invention, as shown in the modified embodiment of Fig. 8, may be constructed of a single leveling member 48. The invention in this form is more adaptable when used with frames of more or less standard widths.

In using the tool, after the plaster material or mortar has been applied, a gauge having a plaster engaging edge of suitable size is selected for the wall area to be finished which may be on either side of the frame. The gauge is attached loosely to the leveling member and the tool is adjusted to the proper width so that the runners contact the respective sides of the trim. The tool is then positioned at the base of the frame, the smoothing gauge is slid by means of the slot so that the plaster engaging edge extends to the proper depth toward the wall from the surface of the trim and the gauge is firmly secured by tightening the wing nuts. The tool is then slid vertically upward along the trim with the runners bearing on the trim on either side with the gauge edge removing the excess mortar or plaster from the wall. A clean finished level surface, in line with the remaining wall and at the proper depth is produced.

Although the tool is used most advantageously in restricted areas from one-half to eight inches, it is obvious that areas of greater widths may be conveniently finished either by utilizing wider edged gauges or by extending the length of leveling members, after having finished the area closest to the trim, to finish the adjacent unfinished area closest to the corner of the wall.

It will be thus seen that I have provided a device in which the objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to advantageous and practical use.

It will be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim.

1. A plasterers tool for smoothing plaster adjacent the trim of wall openings, comprising a longitudinal straight leveling member of suflicient length to span a trimmed opening and adapted to be manually guided along the trim While resting on both sides of the trim simultaneously, and a flat substantially rectangular smoothing gauge member secured at the extremity of said leveling member, said gauge member having an edge for engaging and leveling plaster and being slidably adjustable transversely of said leveling member to permit varying adjustment conforming to the depth between the wall surface and the surface of the trim.

2. A plasterers tool for smoothing plaster adjacent the trim of wall openings, comprising a longitudinal straight leveling member of sufficient length to span a trimmed opening and simultaneously rest on both sides of said trim and having fastening means at the extremities thereof for supporting wall smoothing gauges of varying sizes, and a fiat substantially rectangular smoothing gauge having an edge for engaging and leveling plaster adjustably fastened to said leveling member in such a manner as to permit transverse adjustment of gauge depth to conform to the depth between the wall surface and the surface of the trim.

3. A plasterers tool for smoothing the wall adjacent the trim of wall openings, comprising a first longitudinal straight leveling member, a second longitudinal straight leveling member, means for maintaining said first and second members in extensible relation so as to permit spanning of trimmed wall openings of varying Widths, and a flat substantially rectangular smoothing gauge member having an edge for engaging and leveling plaster, said gauge member being suported by and transversely adjustable at the extremity of one of said longitudinal leveling members to permit varying adjustment of the gauge conforming to the depth of the wall surface and the surface of the trim.

4. A plasterers tool for smoothing plaster adjacent the trim of wall openings, comprising a pair of longitudinal straight leveling members arranged in extensible relation and of a length sufficient to span trimmed openings, said leveling members provided with means for supporting wall smoothing gauges of varying sizes, and a flat, substantially rectangular smoothing gauge having an edge for engaging and leveling plaster, said gauge member being supported by and transversely adjustable at the extremity of one of said longitudinal leveling members to permit varying adjustment of the gauge conforming to the depth of the wall surface and the surface of trim.

5. A plasterers tool for smoothing plaster adjacent the trim of wall openings, comprising a longitudinal straight leveling member of sufficient length to span a trimmed opening and simultaneously rest on both sides of said trim, said leveling member being provided at its extremities with metallic runners to clean the trim surface and resist wear at the bearing surface of the leveling member and the trim; a flat substantially rectangular plaster smoothing gauge provided with a slot for transverse depth adjustment and having an edge for engaging and leveling plaster; and means at the extremities of said leveling member for maintaining the smoothing gauge in transversely adjustable relation therewith and permit adjustment of the said gauge to conform to the depth of the wall surface and the surface of the trim.

6. The plasterers tool of claim 5 wherein the leveling member consists of a pair of longitudinally extensible members in adjustably extensible relation to permit adaptation of the tool to trimmed openings of varying widths.

7. A plasterers tool for smoothing plaster adjacent the trim of Wall openings, comprising a pair of longitudinal straight leveling members of substantially rectangular cross section and of sufficient length to span trimmed wall openings, a plurality of metallic retaining bands maintaining said leveling members in slidably extensible relationship, a fiat substantially rectangular plaster smoothing gauge having an edge for engaging and leveling plaster secured to the extremity of one of said leveling member in such a manner as to permit transverse adjustment of gauge depth to conform to the depth between the wall surface and surface of the trim.

8. The plasterers tool of claim 7 having three metallic retaining bands, two of said adjoining bands being secured to one of said leveling members and the other free to move with the end of the other leveling member to maintain said members firmly clamped at each adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,986 Henderson Mar. 27, 1917 1,541,964 John et al June 16, 1925 1,724,054 Troyer Aug. 13, 1929 1,744,097 Baker et a1. Jan. 21, 1931 2,526,401 Oscar Oct. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,012 Great Britain of 1908 569,187 France Jan. 6, 1924 

